Dynamic Device Addressing for Wireless Pairing Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication devices, such as smart phones and electronic timepieces, require cumbersome operations to break pairings, leading to decreased user convenience due to the inability to change or update device addresses, which are fixed during manufacturing and cannot be altered by users.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication system that allows for the updating of device addresses using a processor and time-measuring unit, enabling simplified pairing operations by rewriting device address values based on current time and count values, allowing for pairing with different devices without complex deletion processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If device addresses are fixed during manufacturing and cannot be changed, then device identification reliability is improved, but pairing breaking operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identification reliabilityVSAvoidpairing breaking operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the device address dynamic by allowing it to be changed upon receiving a change request from another wireless communication device. The address can be updated multiple times throughout the device's operation, transforming it from a static manufacturing-fixed value to a dynamically modifiable identifier. This resolves the contradiction by enabling easy pairing breaking (simply change the address) while maintaining reliable identification (the address remains unique and recognizable).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of device address from immutable to mutable. When a change request is received, the device updates its address parameter, allowing pairing breaking without complex deletion operations. The new address is generated based on timing information and stored in both volatile and non-volatile memory, ensuring the parameter change is persistent and reliable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If device addresses are updated based on timing information, then pairing flexibility is improved, but address uniqueness reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing flexibilityVSAvoidaddress uniqueness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions to ensure address uniqueness before the address is actually changed. It checks whether the newly generated address based on timing information is already in use by other devices. If a conflict is detected, the system adjusts the address generation to ensure uniqueness. This preliminary verification maintains reliability while enabling flexible pairing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the device monitors for address conflicts after updating its address. If another device responds indicating the address is already in use, the system receives this feedback and takes corrective action to generate a unique address. This feedback loop ensures address uniqueness is maintained while allowing flexible pairing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3154280B1Wireless communication device, electronic timepiece and wireless communication method
Publication Date: 2020.02.05 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD
  • EP3154280B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3154280B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3154280B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless communication device includes a wireless communication unit, a storage unit and a processor. The wireless communication unit performs near field communication with another wireless communication device. The storage unit stores an other-device address which is identification information of said another wireless communication device and which is acquired through the wireless communication unit. The processor updates an own-device address which is identification information of the wireless communication device, when receiving an instruction for excluding the other-device address from a connection destination of the near field communication.